Inner tube testing device



April 6, 1937. A. E. LOOKHOLDER INNER TUBE TESTING DEVICE Filed Sepf. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "ii i &

April 6, 1937- A. E. LOOKHOLDER INNER TUBE TESTING DEVICE 7 Filed Sept. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNlTED rArs 7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in testing inner tubes. Usually inner tubes are inflated and immersed in water for detecting air bubbles indicating imperfections. The main object of my invention is to provide apparatus for the purpose stated, by means of which the user may inspect tubes without wetting his hands and without injury to the inner tubes by stretching or otherwise.

Another object is to provide apparatus for use in testing inner tubes of varying sizes, and without injury to or interference by the valve stems of said tubes.

The apparatus facilitates the testing of inner tubes by keeping the tube submerged in a convenient manner, which is difficult to do by hand.

Theconstruction is a modification of the testing device shown, described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,048,191, issued July 21, 1936.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an inner tube testing device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on a smaller scale, taken in the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the tube and part of the apparatus in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, on a smaller scale, of a modified form of construction.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a water containing tank I!) is provided with a roller supporting frame preferably consisting of two cross bars or rods H, H integral with end bars I2 and [3, respectively. As shown, the end bar I 2 is hingedly connected at l4, l4 to the upper edge of one longitudinal side wall of the tank In. The opposite free end bar I3 is preferably engagediby a spring clip 15 secured to the upper edge of the other side wall of the tank Ill. A rest I6 in the form of an angle bar is secured to said wall to support the end bar I3 and ends of the cross bars H, II. The frame is mounted midway between the end walls of the tank H), but the width of the space between the bars ll, ll'may be varied.

In this embodiment, each bar ll carries a pair of depending shafts H, which are preferably inclined from the bar I l downwardly toward the end walls of the tank. The inclination is such that the shafts are disposed approximately ra- 'dially of the axis of the tubes to be tested, as best shown in Fig. 2, but true radial disposition of the shafts I1 is not essential for the o eration of the apparatus which necessarily is used. for testing tubes of different circumferences. A conical roller I8 is loosely mounted on each shaft ii and retained in position on the lower end by an end cap 99 and collar 23]. The upper end of each shaft I? is rigidly secured in an axially inclined sleeve 2i integral with a plate 22 by a pin 23. The plate 22 is secured to a cross rod i i of the frame by screws or any other suitable means. By inclining the roller-shafts by the means shown or by other suitable means, the rollers E8 of a pair engage the side walls of the tube 2 between them as shown in Fig. 3 and when the tube is manually moved, the rollers turn freely on the shafts il in proper frictional engagement with the tube, as shown in Fig. 2. If the rollers were not mounted to revolve about axes approximately radial with respect to the axis of the tube, the

rollers would be inclined to bind on theirshafts and would not have the full frictional engagement with the tube 2 3 which is obtained when the rollers are positioned relativelyto the circumferential curvature of the tubes to be tested.

The tank i is sumciently wide to accommodate the rollers 88 attached to a bar or rod i i, and said rollers are so spaced apart and are of such size that conventional sized tubes will be engaged by said rollers on opposite sides of the tube, to a greater or less degree, depending on the size and circumference of the tube. The air valve 25 passes between the rollers I8 without interference.

While I prefer to use two pairs of rollers l8, one pair connected to a cross bar Il may be used instead of the preferred construction.

In Fig. 4, a modified form of hinged frame consisting of a bent cross'rod 26, hingedly connected to the tank at 21, loosely supports a pair of conical rollers 28. One or two of the cross rods 26, each carrying a pair of rollers 28, may be used. The rollers are located so as to provide room between the tank bottom and the rollers for the tube to-be tested. The pair of conical rollers may be spaced apart on the shaft or rod 26 or have their apexes abutting, as shown.

In using either of the forms of construction shown, vertical or horizontal, the rollers of a pair will be frictionally engaged by opposite side walls of the tube to be tested andwill turn on'their shaft or shafts as the tube is manually moved by the operator.

, e 50 While I prefer to support the rollers shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, on hinged cross rods II, as shown, it is obvious that other forms of supports for the shafts Il may be used. The rollers turn freely on the shaft when the frlctlonally en gaged tube is manually moved and keep part of the tube submerged when water is placed in the tank.

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:- I

1. An inner tube testing device comprising a tank, a support hingedly connected to a side wall of the tank and extending across the tank to the opposite side wall, and a pair of rollers carried by the support, said rollers engaging opposite sides of a tube to be tested and holding the tube submerged beneath and between the rollers when water is placed in the tank.

2. An inner tube testing device comprising a tank, a support hingedly connected to a side wall of the tank and extending across the tank to the opposite side wall, means for detachably connecting the support tosaid opposite side wall, and a pair of rollers carried by the support, said rollers engaging opposite sides of a tube to be tested and holding the tube submerged beneath and between the rollers when water is placed in the tank.

3. An inner tube testing device comprising a tank adapted to receive part of an inner tube when in vertical position, a support extending horizontally and transversely of the tank and through the central opening of the tube when the tube is being tested, a pair of shafts depending from the support, said shafts being disposed approximately radially of the axis of the tube to be tested, and a roller loosely mounted on each shaft, said rollers engaging opposite sides of a tube to be tested and holding the engaged part of the tube submerged when water is placed in the when in vertical position, a support extending across thetank from one side wall to the other and through the central opening of the tube when the tube is being tested, a pair of shafts depending from the support, said shafts being disposed approximately radially of the axis of the tube to be tested, and a roller loosely mounted on each shaft, said rollers engaging opposite sides of a tube to be tested and holding the engaged part of the tube-submerged when water is placed in the tank.

5. An inner tube testing device comprising a tank, a supp rt extending horizontally and transversely of the tank, two pairs of shafts each depending from the support in a direction in-' clined toward an end wall of the tank,-and a roller loosely mounted on each shaft, said rollers of each pair engaging opposite .sides of a tube to be tested and holding the tube submerged beneath and between the rollers when water is placed inthe tank.

6. An inner tube testing device comprising a tank, a support hingedly connected to a side wall of the tank and extending across the tank to the opposite side wall, two pairs of shafts each depending from the support in a direction in-' clined toward an end wall of the tank, and a roller loosely mounted on each shaft, said rollers of each pair engaging opposite sides of a tube to be tested and holding the tube submerged beneath and between the rollers when water is placed in the tank.

7. An inner tube testing device comprising a tank, a, support hingedly connected to a side wall of the tank and extending across the tank to the opposite side wall, a; pair of shafts depending from the support, and a roller loosely mounted on each shaft, said rollers engaging opposite sides of a tube to be tested and holding the tube submerged beneath and between the rollers whenwater is placed in the tank.

ALEX E. LOOKHOLDER. 

